The Effect of Ramadan Fasting and Lifestyle on Diabetic Patients in Yemen Environment

Abstract

During Ramadan, Muslims who are ill or have health conditions that may deteriorate upon fasting, including patients with diabetes, are exempt. During the Ramadan fast, it is essentially a radical change in lifestyle for the period of 1 lunar month that may affect diabetic and cardiac patients. So, this study, was carried out during the period of April 2021 to May 2021(Ramadan month) in Taiz city on 64 already diagnosed diabetic patients. During fasting (stage 1), at fasting breaking (stage 2), and after 2 hours (stage 3), blood glucose level was measured by an automated analyzer. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated as BMI: weight (Kg) / height (m)2= (w/h2).Results showed statistical significant effects of test times on blood glucose level. No statistically significant effect of sex on blood glucose level with test time was recorded. The effects of age and treatment type on blood glucose level in Ramadan were observed (P=0.003, 0.042 respectively). Blood glucose levels of individuals with diabetes duration larger than 15 years have higher blood glucose levels at stages 1 and 2 (Odds ratio= 2 and 1.4 respectively). The major of the participants were healthy weight and overweight (37.5 % and 31.3 % respectively). A higher proportion of male participants was overweight (37.5%) with BMI-mean 28.08 Kg/m2 and healthy weight (35%) with BMI-mean 23.23 Kg/m2. The correlation between BMI and residual blood glucose level was statistically significant (p<0.001) in stages 1, 2, and 3. There were no statistically significant relationships between BMI and blood glucose level, these findings agree with other authors. On the other hand, RMA-regression analysis and Pearson correlation emphasized the correlation between BMI and residual blood glucose level in stages 1, 2, and 3. From current study, perhaps concludes that the variations in blood glucose levels may be mainly due to lifestyle modification (diet, physical activity, and sleeping hours) during Ramadan month. So, the results of our study and the other kinds of literature indicate that fasting in Ramadan is safe for the majority of patients with diabetes management.